Multi-unit delivery system

• US 5,236,689 A
• Filed: 04/24/1992
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Eckenhoff, James B., Theeuwes, Felix, Huynh, Hoa T., Wong, Patrick S. L., Larsen, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROUILLETTE, D GABRIELLE
• Application Number:
  US07/873,901
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 424/473, 604/892.1
• US Class Current: 424/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/4808 characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release capsules filled with granules or microparticles A61K9/16; filled with microcapsules or coated microparticles A61K9/50; with mixture of different granules, microcapsules, (coated) microparticles A61K9/5084
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50

Abstract

A dispenser for use in a fluid environment which is capable of delivery of a plurality of discrete drug-containing units in any desired delivery pattern or profile.

Claims

1. A dispenser for the delivery of flutamide to a fluid-containing environment, the dispenser comprising, in combination:

a. a rigid housing open at one end to provide outlet means therefor, at least a portion of said housing proximate the end of said housing opposite the outlet means permitting passage of the fluid in said environment to the interior of said housing;

b. a fluid-activated driving means within said housing in fluid-transmitting relationship with the fluid-passing portion of said housing proximate the end of said housing opposite said outlet means, said driving means, upon exposure of said dispenser to said fluid environment, being the source of motive power for moving the contents of said housing through said outlet means; and

c. a plurality of solid, discrete dosage units containing flutamide longitudinally disposed within said housing between said driving means and said outlet means, whereby said flutamide units will be sequentially displaced from said housing into said fluid environment by said driving means upon exposure of said dispenser to said fluid environment, at least a portion of said flutamide units being adapted to maintain their chemical and physical integrity while within the housing and to dispense a substantial portion of their flutamide content into the fluid environment after their displacement from said housing into said environment.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said flutamide units are separated by nondrug-containing units.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 which comprises two flutamide units a separated by one nondrug-containing unit.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said driving means comprises an osmopolymer, an osmagent or a mixture of an osmagent in an osmopolymer.